Sue Coletta Delivers With Savage Mayhem!

Greetings! Today we welcome award-winning crime writer Sue Coletta to the Indie Spot! Take it away, Sue . . .

Thank you for hosting me today, Beem! I appreciate your kind invite to help me share the good news for my latest eco-thriller, Savage Mayhem.

When I first plotted Savage Mayhem, I planned for my characters to stop the poaching of grizzlies, wolves, and lynxes. But then, I learned the heart-wrenching history of American Buffalo aka Bison. In the annals of American history, there is no greater destruction of a single species than the massacre of these magnificent animals. The true story shattered me. From the shards of my broken heart emerged Savage Mayhem.

Rather than share what devastated me, which I included in the novel, this excerpt shows Shawnee Daniels’ first encounter with the animal.

Excerpt:

For fresh air, I moseyed down the stairs of the covered porch. Rubbing my tired eyes, I ventured into the yard with my head down, my mind whirling with the chaos of leaving Alaska and my subsequent talk with Ferron, windswept hair shielding my face.

A low rumble shook the earth.

A spade-shaped hoof stepped into my sightline.

It took me a minute to work up enough courage to raise my head. Please let it be a deer and not a…

My gaze inched up the burnt sienna legs and furry culottes of an American Buffalo. All the oxygen in my lungs escaped. Dirt, pollen, and grasses coated a straggly beard and wet nose. Furious eyes bulged out the sockets—a six-foot impenetrable wall of rage deadlocked on me.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, my moccasins rooted to the grass. Frozen in place, I fell under his thrall. Two feet separated me from the most Herculean land mammal in North America.

A gazillion things coursed through my mind in seconds.

Shicheii taught me how to gauge a Bison’s mood. If the tail hung loose and switched, the animal felt relaxed. Not so with the enraged individual towering me. His tail flexed upward, the fluffy end bent forward like a scorpion. The hair on his ginormous shoulder hump hackled. Even his thick, grayish-black tongue stiffened, the muscular organ protruded out his mouth, long strings of saliva dripping from black lips.

Uh-oh. Not good.

Why, why, why, why, why did I leave the porch? No one even knew I strolled outside. If I’d stayed near the stairs, the Bison’s near-sightedness might help me. Not now, while he stood close enough to kiss. Everything about his demeanor screamed our chance encounter flipped a sullen and disgruntled switch.

When he snorted, a watery mist smacked my face, lashes fluttering to clear the phlegm.

O Great Spirit, please don’t let my journey end this way. I might deserve it after all the crap I’ve pulled over the years, but I’m not ready to die. Not yet. The Innocent Ones, including the pissed off individual in front me, count on us to stop their destruction.

Foot after careful foot, I backed away. The closest tree stood about ten feet behind me, to the right of the covered porch. If I made it there in time, I might survive this encounter. Keyword—might.

 

Book description:

Amidst the wild and unforgiving landscapes of Yellowstone Park, join Mayhem, a fearless Apache warrior and champion of the Natural World, and his partner and protégé, Shawnee, as they race against the clock to protect an American Buffalo herd from the ruthless Killzme Corporation.

 With a massive bounty on their heads and an army of killers on their trail, Mayhem and Shawnee must use all their cunning and survival skills to outsmart their enemies. They will risk it all to preserve the sacred lineage of the Innocent Ones.

There is no line Shawnee and Mayhem won’t cross.

Even murder.

As the danger intensifies and the clock winds down, will they be able to save the herd? Or will this be the mission that finally breaks them?

99c Preorder Sale! Savage Mayhem releases April 11, 2024, in paperback and digital formats. Though Savage Mayhem is book 9 in the Mayhem Series, it can also be read as a standalone.

Find all my books here. Join my newsletter here. Free monthly giveaways!

A Beggar’s Bargain Blog Tour Day 8

Greetings to one and all. Today, we welcome author Jan Sikes to The Indie Spot blog. Jan has released a brand new novel entitled A Beggar’s Bargain. Take it away, Jan . . . 

Thank you, Beem, for helping me spread the word about my new historical fiction release, A Beggar’s Bargain! I’m deeply grateful for your support.

One of my primary goals with writing this story was to stay true to the time period. And while the medical profession was making great progress by 1947, in the rural areas, doctor still made house calls.

Telephones were still scarce, especially in these rural areas, so the only options were to be taken to a hospital or send for a doctor when suffering an injury. In this case, the doctor made a house call when Layken was injured.

Take a look:

Mrs. Grover moved aside. “Thank God you’re here, Doc. He’s in a bad way.”

Doctor Baker nodded, pulled out his stethoscope, and then leaned over the patient. After listening for a minute, he pressed around in different areas on the chest, which elicited loud groans from Layken. “He’s got a couple of broken ribs for sure, and one of the ribs has punctured a lung. That’s a more critical situation. I can hear air escaping.”

“What can you do?” Sara Beth twisted the hem of her apron in her hands.

“I can bind him, but he needs oxygen treatment for a couple of days to let that lung rest and heal.”

“How do we get that?” She hated showing her ignorance, but other than her mother’s brief illness, Sara Beth had never seen an injured or sick person.

“It will take some time, but I can either transport him to the hospital over in Greenfield or contact them and have them bring out an oxygen bottle or two.”

Layken stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. He attempted to move and let out an agonizing yelp. “What happened?”

Sara Beth instinctively laid a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been hurt. Don’t you remember falling from the tractor?”

He nodded slightly.

The doctor took over. “I’m Dr. Baker. Don’t try to move. You’ll only make it worse. Son, you’ve got some broken ribs, and you’ve punctured a lung. I need to get you to the hospital.”

Layken raised a shaky hand to his forehead. “No. No.” He tried once more to sit, only to give up the struggle. “Gotta finish watering.”

Uncle Seymour stepped forward, crushing his hat in his hands. “Don’t you worry none, Mister Layken. I’ll get the rest of the field watered. I feel downright awful about what happened. Didn’t see that hole.”

Sara Beth squared her shoulders and joined him. “It’s not your fault, Uncle Seymour.” She looked directly at Layken. “I’ll help. You have to do what the doctor says. We’ll get it done even if it takes a few days.”

“Ain’t got a few days,” Layken muttered.

“Son, you have no choice.” Dr. Baker touched his shoulder. “I’ll do what I can, but it won’t be enough unless you do your part. And that includes strict bed rest and oxygen therapy to help that lung heal, either here or in the hospital.”

“No. I can’t.”

The doctor dropped the stethoscope into his bag. “As I said, you have no choice. Now, I want to give you a shot to help with the pain, but I’d like for you to tell me what you want to do. You can either go to the hospital or stay here, and I can have oxygen delivered.”

The frustration showed in Layken’s eyes. “This is awful. Don’t want a hospital or a shot. You don’t understand. I have to work.”

“Look. I get it, sir. Really, I do. But I am the doctor. I know what will help you heal quicker so you can get back to work. You need to let me do my job.”

“Fine. I’d rather stay here. No hospital.”

Even though she’d only known him briefly, Sara Beth recognized his stubborn jaw set and determination in his eyes. “It’s okay, Doctor. If you can get the oxygen delivered, Uncle Seymour and I will see that he stays in bed if we have to tie him down.”

Layken grumbled under his breath and winced when he shifted on the couch.

***

While it was difficult for Layken to give in to the doctor’s orders, he had to heal if he wanted to return to work, and he did. In another scene, when the doctor returned to check on Layken, Sara Beth had gotten into poison ivy. The doctor left an experimental drug, antihistamine, to help dry up the rash. I had to do some research on when that drug became available. Things certainly have changed over the years. Would a doctor consider making a house call these days? I think we all know that answer.

Let’s talk!

Book Blurb:

A shocking proposal that changes everything.

Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm.

Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire.

Only the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?

Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the bargain.

Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.

If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.

 

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK:

https://books2read.com/u/3nqqEo

 

BOOK TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/G6vMqD4SuQ4?si=aZG6RCZbFlhJfuxB

 

Author Bio:

 

JAN’S SOCIAL MEDIA:

UNIVERSAL LINK: https://linktr.ee/Rijanjks

OR INDIVIDUALLY

http://www.jansikes.com

https://www.twitter.com/jansikes3

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-sikes

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CS9K8DK  (Author Page)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095856.Jan_Sikes

A New Release from Gwen M. Plano!

Greetings to one and all! Author Gwen M. Plano has released a brand new novel! The Soul Whisperer’s Decision is available wherever you buy books!

BLURB:

Sarah Jameson, a nurse at County Central Hospital, survives an accident that kills her two young children. While comatose, she travels into the heavenly realm where she visits with her precious little ones. She is given a choice – return to her husband, Jack, or remain with her children in their celestial home.

Jack was not in the fated automobile. Though he heard the crash and ran to help, there was nothing he could do. He suffers the loss of his children, fears the potential demise of his wife, and wonders about his own sanity. His struggle with PTSD from his military years has returned and at times, he cannot distinguish between the present and the past.

An accident tragically changed the lives of this young family, but out of sorrow emerges unexpected blessings.

BACKSTORY:

I have a special interest in the Near-Death Experience phenomenon. Since the 1980s, I’ve read original research of accounts, and I’ve also read numerous books by survivors. Though I’ve not experienced an NDE, I’ve had several inexplicable experiences of a loving presence at times of great duress.

For ten years, 2002 – 2012, I was an administrator at a college near Camp Pendleton in California. I worked directly with the Marine veterans and, to a lesser degree, veterans from the other branches of the military. I quickly discovered that almost all the Marines suffered PTSD and/or physical injuries from their service in Iraq or Afghanistan. I became their advocate and tried to provide a ‘safe’ place for the veterans to meet, hang out, and process. To this day, my experience with the veterans remains the highlight of my thirty years in Higher Education.

When I wrote The Soul Whisperer’s Decision, I sought to illuminate the struggles of those who have experienced extreme violence. And, as well, I tried to show the healing power of love. None of us can erase our past or another’s, but by our choices, we can carve a hopeful future for ourselves and others.

 

Author Blurb:

Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, spent most of her professional life in higher education. Recently retired, she now lives in the high desert of Arizona, where she writes, gardens, and travels with her husband. Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her second book, The Contract between heaven and earth, is a thriller fiction novel, coauthored by John W. Howell. It has received multiple awards and is an Amazon Best Seller. The Choice, the unexpected heroes is the sequel to The Contract. The third book in the series, The Culmination, a new beginning is an action-packed military thriller that involves the threat of World War III. The series underscores the belief that only love can change the fate of humanity. In keeping with that theme, Redemption, A Father’s

Fatal Decision focuses on the choice a father makes to protect his family. Gwen’s newly released novella, The Gift, is a story of three families who meet unexpectedly and rediscover the importance of love.

When Gwen is not writing, she’s often in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, where she finds inspiration and peace.

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon:   https://bit.ly/488Ziay

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/48aWmdu

 

BLOG: www.gwenplano.com ( https://bit.ly/48AKRvE )

 

 

 

Harmony Kent Returns with The Room at the End

Greeting to one and all. Since the holidays are upon us, this is a great opportunity to discover new books for the readers on your Christmas list. I am pleased to introduce the latest novel by author Harmony Kent.

Book Description: The Room at the End

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

 When guilt-ridden Mia checks in to a suicide hotel, but can’t go through with the final act, vengeful ghosts gather to torment her.

Set in the near future, the post-war world is in turmoil.

Mia Hawthorne suffers an emotional breakdown, following the death of her wife, and loses everything to a corrupt government.

In an ironic twist of fate, the government suicide department, The Last Sanctuary, allocates a desperate and destitute Mia to the very hotel and family heirloom which she has so recently lost.

On her first day at the Lighthouse Inn, beset with painful memories, doubts, and questions, Mia finds herself coming face to face with angry ghosts, who gather to goad and torment her.

Lost and alone, can Mia find enough strength and purpose to avoid her final, frightful fate?

Excerpt from Chapter 6 of The Room at the End:

As soon as Mia stepped into the cottage, Ollie stiffened in her arms and wriggled until he fell. Somehow, he did a cat thing and landed on his feet, unhurt. Her immediate relief fled in the wake of terror when the puppy barked and growled with his four paws planted firmly in the carpet. An unseen horror across the room held his attention. Had the storm not raged so violently outside, Mia would likely have fled back to the inn and demanded a room there instead of staying at the keeper’s cottage. In the midst of her fright, Mia laughed—a hard, grating saw of a sound. Here she stood, in fear for her life, when she’d come here to take her life. At her feet, Ollie gave her a doggy scowl as though she’d insulted him with her mirth, but whatever presence upset him so much recaptured his attention in the next moment. In the far corner, the shadows deepened, and apart from the dog’s warning growls and the gale’s howls, the cottage grew preternaturally silent.

Whispers and low voices snaked through the still air toward Mia, but she couldn’t make out the words. A sharp admonition silenced them. Something felt off. Dangerous. A knife-blade of doubt struck her straight through the heart and stopped her breath. She glanced around the room, and a sickening rush of nausea brought a wave of dizziness. Mia swayed and grabbed the sideboard next to her. In her clumsiness, she knocked the bowl with the key cards and feather onto the floor. Ollie yelped and hid under the sofa.

The blackness in the corner shifted and coalesced. A form materialised. Mia didn’t recognise the thirtyish-looking man with dark blonde hair. The apparition glared at her, and she couldn’t help but whimper and sink to her knees, which unhinged all at once and left her helpless.

AUTHOR BIO:

 Harmony Kent spent 13 years in a Zen Buddhist monastery, where she faced her demons and overcame devastating low self-esteem and found freedom. After a life-changing injury, Harmony returned to the world at the tender age of 40, and her life as a writer began.

Harmony is an award winning multi-genre author, and her publications include:

The Battle for Brisingamen (Fantasy Fiction) AIA approved

The Glade (Mystery/Thriller) AIA Approved/BRAG Medallion Honouree/New Apple Literary Awards Official Selection Honours 2015

Polish Your Prose: Essential Editing Tips for Authors (Writing/Editing) New Apple Literary Awards Top Medallist Honours 2015

Creative Solutions (Creative Writing Inspiration)

Finding Katie (Women’s Fiction)

Slices of Soul (Soul Poetry Series: Book 1)

Life and Soul (Soul Poetry Series: Book 2)

Sorrowful Soul (Soul Poetry Series: Book 3)

Interludes (Erotic Short Stories)

Interludes 2 (Erotic Short Stories)

Moments (Short Stories and Poetry)

Jewel in the Mud (Zen Musings)

Backstage (Erotic Romance and Thriller)

FALLOUT (Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia) BRAG Medallion Honouree

The Vanished Boy (Psychological Thriller)

 

As well as being an avid reader and writer, Harmony also offers reviews and supports her fellow authors. Harmony is always on the lookout for talent and excellence, and will freely promote any authors or books who she feels have these attributes.

Harmony’s Website

twitter: @harmony_kent

Goodreads: Harmony Kent

BookBub: Harmony Kent

Harmony’s Amazon Author Page: author.to/HarmonysBooks

 

PRE-ORDER TODAY!

 

ORDER ALL EIGHT BOOKS IN THE SERIES HERE:

A NEW RELEASE FROM GWEN M. PLANO!

Fresh Ink Group author Gwen M. Plano has released her latest novel, The Gift: Harbor Pointe Series Book 2. Grab your copy today!

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

In an innocent 1958 American suburb, Shelly doesn’t know the power of a kiss. Or how it will change her entire life.

At sixteen years old, she falls in love with a young man. One night—just one night—they go too far. Months later, pregnant and shamed, Shelly’s parents banish her.

Alone and heavily pregnant, circumstances force Shelly to cross the country in an old pickup.

A mistaken turn leaves her lost in a forest amidst a severe snow storm and in labor.

In the dark of night. Shelly must get help for her new-born baby before they both perish. A light in the distance gives her the slimmest glimmer of hope.

After Shelly wraps the infant in her father’s old jacket, she trudges through the snow to a lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Snow half buries the squat stone building.

Will Shelly find shelter, or is it the beginning of the end?

The Gift: Harbor Pointe Series Book 2 is available here:

Author D. L. Finn Delivers “In the Tree’s Shadow: A Collection of Stories” #NewRelease

Greetings to one and all. Today, author D. L. Finn stops by The Indie Spot to share her latest creation. Take it away, Denise . . .

Thank you, Beem, for having me here today to share my latest release, In the Tree’s Shadow.

In “A Day at the Lake,” Cathy sits on the lake’s edge, enjoying her peaceful moment of having it all to herself. She’s there to release her mother’s ashes and start a new chapter in her life or retirement.

I spent much of my youth with my great-grandparents in Clear Lake, CA. I loved sitting on the lake’s dock at night, fishing with the adults, and taking in the peace and beauty of a star-covered night. My imagination wandered even with all that peace, and the occasional catfish caught. What if a creature existed under those murky lake waters?

Cathy discovers that everything has its season and that what lives in the lake has theirs. In this story, I give both perspectives on the event.

This is also my first short story challenge on Vocal. It was a Horror Fiction Challenge set by a body of water. Couldn’t pass that up, could I?

BLURB:

A collection of short stories where dreams and nightmares coexist.

Nestled inside these pages, you’ll meet a couple in their golden years who take a trip with an unexpected detour, a boy desperate to give his brother the Christmas gift he asked for, a girl with a small glass dragon who is at the mercy of her cruel uncles, and a young mother who has a recurring dream about murder. You’ll be introduced to worlds where people get second chances and monsters might be allowed their desires, while angels and dragons try to help. Happy endings occur, but perspective can blur the line between good and evil in these twenty-seven tales. Since the stories vary between 99 and 12,000 words, whether you have only five minutes or an entire evening to settle into reading, there is something that will suit your time and taste.

EXCERPT:

The hazy sunbeams vanished under Lake Vera’s icy surface as a bald eagle dove and captured a rainbow trout. The bird and its victim soared to a padded nest on top of the cedar. Cathy snapped shot after shot on the camera she’d saved all year to buy. The heavy new lens gave her a close-up of the steely determination in the eagle’s eye and the blood seeping from the squirming fish. The eaglets would eat well tonight.

On a red plaid blanket, Cathy sat as still as the alert deer with her fawn drinking from the water’s edge. She slowly turned the camera on the gentle creatures, adding to her growing collection of nature shots. When the deer finally got their fill of the algae-ridden water, they disappeared into the tree’s shadows. She took a break from photography and pulled out the carefully packed roast beef sandwich with mayo, mustard, pickles, and lettuce on a sourdough roll—all the fixings, as her mom used to say before she faded away into dementia.

After finishing her meal, she wiped her mouth with a soft red cloth napkin that smelled of spring. She cleaned up her area to reflect her love of nature. As the sign said, Pack it in, pack it out. It had been the perfect day to go to the lake and have it all to herself. Today was how Cathy had pictured retirement, but until now, she’d spent it as her mother’s sole caretaker, which was the real reason she was here.

“Goodbye, Mom. I hope you find some peace now.”

She bent down at the lake’s edge and released the ashes. This was the place her family had come for summer picnics. Now Cathy was the only one left. She snapped pictures of what remained of her childhood, slowly floating away on the mirror-still lake toward the bald eagle’s nest and the creepy old oak tree.

AMAZON PURCHASE LINK

FUN FINN FACTS:

1. My best birthday decoration was on a family camping trip. It was a banner made from paper towels wishing me a happy birthday.
2. I used to ride horses often as a child. I was offered one, but it would have been too far away to walk there daily to care for it.

BIO:

1. D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, a unique autobiography, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter

Bookbub

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog

Amazon Page

 

 

Gwen M. Plano Returns with Redemption! #NewRelease

I am honored to share my blog today with someone I admire and consider a dear friend! Welcome Gwen M. Plano.

Thank you, Beem, for inviting me to your site today. It’s a pleasure to visit your readers and share a bit about my new release.

Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision is a mystery thriller that takes place in the Southeast corner of New York state, in the towns of New Rochelle and Cortlandt. In the excerpt below, the characters travel to Ossining, midway between those two cities. Having spent about twenty years in and around that area, it was exciting to visit as a writer.

The book tackles themes of forgiveness and redemption through suspense. We accompany the son and daughter of the deceased as they try to uncover the reason for their father’s murder. What they discover prompts them to ask if they even knew him.

Sometimes complicated situations help us see our own challenges in a different light. That is my hope for this book. Most of us won’t experience threats like those of my characters, but pain is universal, as is joy. Seeing either in the extreme helps us recognize our own—and severe or elated, those emotions are impactful.

In this excerpt, Lisa and Trace Holmes, along with their friend Ryan, drive to a storage facility. They have retrieved boxes of documents and cash from a hidden cabin belonging to their father. Lisa talks with the clerk at the facility and is humbled by what he explains.

EXCERPT

Tucked away from the main street, and enclosed by a tall steel security fence, George’s Storage units are barely visible from the road.

“Well, at least this is private,” Trace says. He nods at Lisa. “Come with me to sign the rental papers.”

They walk into the office and find an unshaven attendant seated behind the desk. The guy sets down his cell phone and looks at the siblings. “Monthly or yearly?”

“Monthly,” Trace says.

Lisa scans the room and spots boxes and packing tape. “We’ll have four boxes and this package of tape as well.”

“We have more in the back room, ma’am. I’ll show you.” The man maneuvers his wheelchair to a side door and turns on the light. “There might be something in here that would help you.”

Lisa notices his stumps and his dog tags. “Vietnam?”

“Yes, ma’am. U.S. Marine Corps. My last battle was the Tet Offensive in sixty-eight.”

“My uncle served on a sub. He came back a changed man. Thank you for your service, Marine. You’ve given more than most of us ever will.”

He studies her and sees her sincerity. “I’d do it again if I thought it would help our country. Some things are worth more than our lives.”

“Wise words, sir, and timely. Thank you.”

BLURB

Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa Holmes visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and walks to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings. Her father opens the door, and one minute later, he lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest.

The Holmes family lives on a quiet street, but no one really knows Eric Holmes. He travels for business and comes home a few days each month. Unbeknown to all, Eric has multiple lives.

In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother, Trace, embark on a quest to solve the mystery involving the murder of their father. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. As the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they discover the meaning of Redemption.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

BookBub: bit.ly/3Y26EI5

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3XIe6Yu

Story Empire: https://storyempire.com/gwen-m-plano

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gmplano

Blog: www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections

 

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3RebK0W

Amazon Purchase Page: https://amzn.to/3XKiLJn

Barnes and Noble: bit.ly/3JGgdbl

Author Joan Hall Returns With New Release! #ShortStories

It is my great pleasure and honor to welcome friend and author Joan Hall to The Indie Spot today!

Without a Trace

Thanks for sharing your blog today, Beem. I’m excited to be here and to talk about my newest release, Menagerie. It’s a mixed-genre compilation of thirteen short stories. Each tour stop features a different story and I tell how it came about. Today’s story is Without a Trace. It’s set in 1987 and falls into the mystery/suspense category.

Several years ago, I envisioned an old, abandoned house. The home’s original owner died in a freak accident, and some speculated his ghost haunted the place. Other than that, I wasn’t sure what I would do with it. The only thing I knew was the name of the street, so the working title was The House on Baker Street. That name came about not because of Sherlock Holmes, but from a popular tune from the late 1970s by Gerry Rafferty.

As I pondered what to do with the idea, I recalled an incident that happened when I was in my late teens. A new neighbor stopped by one day to ask us about a nearby abandoned farmhouse. Mom and I knew of the home—the owner died about ten years earlier, and her family left the house unoccupied and in a state of disrepair.

Our neighbor had stopped there to dig some bulbs that grew near the road. The door was open, and she went inside. Some of the woman’s clothing still hung in closets. I accompanied Mrs. B. another time. An old prescription medicine bottle sat on the kitchen counter. A spoon still rested on the stove. A few food items were still in the cabinet. Needless to say, it was bizarre.

That’s when I decided to write a story where a family disappeared during the night with not much more than their clothes came to mind.

In Without a Trace, a television reporter, Tricia Strickland, moves to a new town and wonders why an old home was left abandoned. When she learns about the family’s mysterious disappearance, she decides to investigate and gets permission from the station manager to do a special report.

After getting permission from the house’s new owner, Trisha and her cameraman film inside the house. But will she learn the truth of what happened to the family? Below is an excerpt.

Excerpt:

Trisha stepped into the foyer then followed the new owner throughout the first floor. Layers of dust coated the furnished interior. Magazines lay on the coffee table. The kitchen still had appliances. Dishes were in the cabinet. An open pantry door revealed rusting cans of food. Trisha didn’t want to think about what they left in the refrigerator.

The second floor was more of the same. Furniture was still in place, and children’s toys were on the floors. A few clothes hung in closets.

It wasn’t hard to determine which room belonged to the daughter. It contained a white canopied bed—a style popular during the late sixties and early seventies. Cracked and fading posters of David Cassidy adorned one wall.

The second bedroom was all boy—bunk beds, model cars on shelves, a baseball glove, and a single sports trophy. Trisha ventured near to read the engraving. It was a first-place little league team award belonging to Rick Keller.

“Hey, Jeff. Get a close-up shot of this. What kind of family would leave behind items that meant something to their children? They must have fled for their lives.”

“I guess you could say that.”

Blurb:

King’s. The Tower of London. Glass. What do these have in common?

Each is a famous menagerie.

While this Menagerie doesn’t focus on exotic animals, it does contain a collection of stories that explore various trials people face and how their reactions shape their worlds.

Survivors of a haunted bridge. Women who wait while their husbands fight a war. Former partners reuniting to solve a cold-case murder.

These are just three of the thirteen stories in this compendium, encompassing past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality. The genres and timelines are varied, but there’s a little something for everyone who enjoys reading about simpler times and small-town life.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/jh-menagerie

About the Author

Social Media Links

Website   |   Blog   |   BookBub   |   Goodreads

John W. Howell’s The Last Drive Arrives! #NewRelease @HowellWave

Greetings to one and all. Today, I am honored to present John W. Howell’s latest release, The Last Drive.

I am so pleased to be with you today, Beem. I want to thank you for helping spread the word about The Last Drive. Your stories have always impressed me with the authentic characters, setting and dialogue. Of course, I don’t reach your level in this stead, but it occurred to me that there were some historical events that could only have been crafted by the devil. I had not thought about creating a sequel to Eternal Road, but the opportunity to visit these historical events with my characters was too compelling to ignore and so The Last Drive was born.

Here is the blurb and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.

The Blurb

In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.

The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey takes the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.

This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.

An Excerpt.

Sam approaches James, who sits on a chair in a meadow, reading a book next to a glass of iced tea on a small table. Her old friend appears comfortable in his Eternal Home. Butterflies take wing in her stomach. Maybe not bothering James might be the best alternative. As she turns to leave, James glances her way. His eyes widen, and he thrusts out of the chair and makes a semi-sprint over to her. “My God, Sam. It’s you, isn’t it?”

Sam smiles. “Yes, it’s me.”

He turns, throws the book toward the chair, and takes Sam’s hands in his. “How’ve you been?” James radiates warmth.

With a squeeze of James’s hands, Sam gazes into his eyes. “I’ve been great. How about you?”

James releases Sam’s hands. “I can’t believe I haven’t sat around thinking about you.”

“That’s not what you’re supposed to do for eternity.”

“But you would think you’d cross my mind sometime.”

Sam smiles. “That’s the beauty of this place. You only have great thoughts about the things you want to think about.”

A Link to the Trailer

You Tube https://youtu.be/HEUninXiibI

Buy Links

The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.

Kindle https://mybook.to/FYmkKr

Paper https://mybook.to/BCsWV

Author Bio

John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written Six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Author links

Blog Fiction Favorites, http://johnwhowell.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241

Twitter –https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave

Goodreads –https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell

Amazon Author’s page –https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell

Eternal Road Buy links

Kindle Universal link  mybook.to/EternalRoad

Paper universal link mybook.to/Eternalroadpaper

Author C. S. Boyack Returns With The Midnight Rambler!

Greetings, readers! Today, it is my honor and privilege to introduce to you Lisa Burton, the robot girl and personal assistant to author C. S. Boyack. Lisa has stopped by to share the latest installment in Boyack’s brilliantly original The Hat series entitled The Midnight Rambler. Welcome to The Indie Spot, Lisa. . .  

 

Oh, my gosh! I’m so excited to get away from the writing cabin for this tour. Thank you for having me over, Beem. I’m here to talk about The Midnight Rambler, Craig’s newest volume in The Hat Series. Don’t let that word, series, scare you away. All of these can be read as solo titles if one appeals more than the others. It’s October and this one has mad science. Just saying.

 

Anyhoo, there’s this ancient enemy of the hat and he’s come back to even the score. He’s a bad dude, spirit, whatever. He’s taking the tower fortress approach to make the hat to screw up. A desperate Lizzie and the hat might make a fatal mistake.

 

The Rambler kidnaps one of the local coven members, and he’s the only person who can make magical medicine for Lizzie’s new love interest. Without this medicine, Ray C. Adair is going to die. There’s a lot of pressure on our heroes.

 

This love interest is something new for the series, and Lizzie has to deal with always having the hat around, trying to save Ray’s life, and some serious bad weather while trying to get her private time in. It’s not easy being a paranormal heroine.

 

To celebrate mad science in all it’s glory, I posed for Sean Harrington to make this poster for everyone. For some reason he had these awesome mad science shoes laying around. They might have gone missing after the shoot. No idea where they went.

 

Your fans are welcome to use the poster as wallpaper, share it to Pinterest, or whatever else turns them on. Robot girls can always use a boost.

 

 

The Hat Series consists of short novels, which Craig insists on calling noveloids. He’s a weird dude, but you kind of want that in an author. The books are all stand-alone stories, so you don’t have to read every volume before picking up The Midnight Rambler. You can start right here if you like and won’t feel lost at all. Side note: I’m bucking for a Christmas bonus, so if you did pick them all up, it would really help. Maybe some cute Chiristmas boots with little bells.

 

 

Something evil is after the hat. The ageless enemies have battled many times, but this time Lizzie is wearing the hat. She’s also up against a ticking clock, in that if she can’t find the maker of her new friend’s medicine he will die.

 

The Rambler has kidnapped the only witch capable of making Ray’s medicine in an attempt to make the hat sloppy in his efforts. He’s also flooded the streets with deadly minions to impede any progress our heroes might make.

 

As if that weren’t enough, Lizzie is facing more of life’s struggles, both financially and mechanically. This all goes down in the middle of a huge flood event that she’s ill equipped to handle.

 

Join Lizzie and the hat as they battle the elements, the paranormal, and a being of pure evil. Lizzie might be battling some personal demons along the way as she and Ray grow closer.

 

Get your copy here: https://mybook.to/TheMidnightRambler

 

 

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